HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004 Annual Report - Community & Economic Development COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTTEE REPORT FOR
2004.
THE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE HELD A
TOTAL OF 20 COMMITTEE MEETINGS DURING 2004.
THE COMMITTEE WAS PLEASED TO NOTE THE NAMING OF SHARON
KENDALL AS DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. SHE SUCCEEDS THE LATE JON HUNT.
SOME MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS HIGHLIGHTED THE YEAR'S ACTIVITIES FOR
THE COMMITTEE AND THE DEPARTMENT. AMONG THEM WAS THE
CONSTRUCTION, DEDICATION AND OPENING OF THE A.J. WRIGHT
DISTRIBUTION FACILITY. WHEN OPERATIONS REACH THEIR FULL
POTENTIAL, 800 NEW JOBS WILL BE PROVIDED FOR SOUTH BEND'S WORK
FORCE.
WORK CONTINUED UNABATED ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MAJOR
RETAIL COMPLEX IN THE IRELAND ROAD AREA ON SOUTH BEND'S SOUTH
SIDE. THE SCOTTSDALE MALL WAS DEMOLISED TO PROVIDE FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF NEW RETAIL ENTITIES. A NEW TARGET STORE HAS
BEEN BUILT AND NEW RESTAURANTS ARE BEING PLANNED AND BUILT
WEST OF MICHIGAN STREET, ON IRELAND, ANOTHER MAJOR RETAIL
FACILITY IS PLANNED.
THE DOWNTOWN AREA IS SEEING RENOVATION AND IMPROVEMENT. THE
VINE RESTAURANT HAS MOVED TO THE PALAIS ROYALE AREA. THE
SOUTH BEND CHOCOLATE COMPANY HAS MOVED INTO THE PREVIOUS
VINE LOCATION. SOUTH BEND CHOCOLATE COMPANY OWNER MARK
TARNER HAS PROPOSED TAKING OVER THE ENTIRE 100 SOUTH MICHIGAN
BLOCK CREATE MORE RETAIL OUTLETS AS WELL AS APARTMENTS IN THE
DOWNTOWN AREA. THE CITY IS CONSIDERING TARNER'S PROPOSAL.
THE COMMITTEE APPROVED APPROXIMATELY 60 TAX ABATEMENTS IN
2004 TOTALLING OVER$60 MILLION IN NEW CONSTRUCTION AND
EQUIPMENT AND PROVIDING SEVERAL HUNDRED NEW JOBS FOR SOUTH
BEND'S WORK FORCE.
THE COMMITTEE MET WITH SEVERAL REPRESENTATIVES OF COMPANIES
WHO DID NOT MEET THE CRITIERIA SPECIFIED IN APPLICATIONS FOR TAX
ABATEMENT. THE COMMITTEE WILL CONSIDER THE INFORMATION
PROVIDED AND MAKE A JUDGEMENT ON CONTINUING THE ABATEMENT
IN EARLY 2005,
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, Filed In Clerk's Office
ROLAND KELLY, CHAIR
tl; 1 0 2004
JOHN VOORDE
CITY CLEK,SO.BEND,IN.